| The discovery made by ancient Amazonians
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| | Because of their elevated charcoal
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| more then 500 years ago has the ability
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| | content, it is now widely accepted that
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| to change any soil into the most fertile
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| | these soils are a product of indigenous
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| in the world. This discovery will
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| | soil management involving a labor
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| increase agriculture production on less
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| | intensive technique termed
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| land, help solve world hunger and save
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| | slash-and-char. The technique is
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| the rain forest.
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| | differentiated from slash and burn by a
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| Terra preta (which means "dark soil" in
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| | lower temperature burn and in being a
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| Portuguese), or Terra prÃtta do Ãndio,
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| | tool for soil improvement. Amending soil
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| refers to expanses of very dark soils
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| | with low temperature charcoal produced
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| found in the Amazon Basin. They are also
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| | from a mix of wood and leafy biomass
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| known as Amazonian dark earths.
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| | (termed bio-char) has been observed to
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| Overview
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| | increase the activity of arbuscular
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| Terra preta is distinguished from "terra
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| | mycorrhizal fungi.
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| comum," or "common soil," which refers to
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| | About 10% of the original terra comum
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| the reddish or yellowish ferralsols that
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| | appears to have converted to Terra preta.
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| predominate under tropical soils. Terra
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| | Whether all Amazonian dark earth was
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| preta is believed to be the result of
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| | intentionally created for soil
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| past indigenous activities in the forest
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| | improvement or whether the lightest
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| and is thus considered to be anthropic
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| | variants are a by-product of habitation
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| and/or anthropogenic, possibly from a
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| | is not clear at present time. This is in
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| pre-Columbian civilization. It seems to
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| | part due to the varied features of the
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| be comprised of low temperature charcoal,
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| | dark earths throughout the Amazon Basin.
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| pottery shreds, plant residues, animal
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| | Quest Innovations & Research is currently
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| feces, fish bones, and perhaps some
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| | researching and developing a way to
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| biological agent like a special ecosystem
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| | implement this new discovery to relieve
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| of healthy microorganisms. Because they
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| | the growing food needs being experienced
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| are very rich in nutrients they are
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| | world wide.
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| explored and used as compost by Amazonian
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| | Other projects being developed are a
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| local farmers and "caboclos."
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| | water hydration system that will
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| The origin of the Amazonian dark earths
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| | eliminate the need to pump water from the
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| is not entirely clear and several
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| | ground or dam rivers. The perpetual
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| theories have been considered. These
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| | electrical energy unit will provide an
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| soils were originally postulated to
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| | endless source of clean energy. The
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| result from ash fall from volcanoes in
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| | hydroponics system will use Terra preta
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| the Andes since they occur more
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| | as a basis to produce and increase food
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| frequently on the brows of higher
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| | supplies world wide. These and many other
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| terraces. Another theory considered is
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| | projects are being researched and
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| formation as a result of sedimentation in
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| | developed.
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| Tertiary lakes or in recent ponds.
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